Method and device for accessing a database

ABSTRACT

A comfortable method and device for searching databases are required. Thus, a database access concept including an interface descriptor is proposed. The interface descriptor may be a XML-file which describes interface categories and database access strategies. The database interface machine may comprise a standard category display method and a standard database access method. The database interface machine can use the definitions contained in the interface descriptor to set up a categorized interface to the database and to perform complete database searches.

The present invention relates to a method for accessing a databaseincluding the steps of presenting at least one category item defining asearch criterion for the database, selecting one or more of the at leastone category item and searching in the database according to theselected one or more category items. Furthermore, the present inventionrelates to a corresponding device for accessing a database.

For searching desired data in a database, three methods areavailable: 1) It is possible to browse all data in the database and findout the wanted data; 2) It is possible to query the database by inputkeywords; and 3) It is possible to search in the database through somepre-defined categories.

The advantage of method 1 is that one can browse all data in thedatabase. Its disadvantage is that it is an inefficient method in caseof a large database. The advantage of method 2 is that one can query thedatabase quickly by a keyword. Its disadvantage is that there is noguarantee to find the desired results, if the wrong keywords are used.The method 3 makes use of the advantages of method 1 and 2. It usespre-defined categories (keywords) to sort and access all data in thedatabase. By using method 3, the user may search for desired dataefficiently among all database data. The disadvantage of method 3 isthat the defined categories and associated database accessimplementation must be pre-built in the database-interface-machine. Ifusers want to update categories and/or database access methods in theirinterface machine, they must update the related software or hardware.

In this connection document WO 02/15047 discloses an interface systemfor accessing data stored in a database. The interface comprises a datadictionary structurally defining the database and a dictionary ofinterface defining descriptors. The interface descriptors can bemodified or new descriptors can be added. When performing searches, theinterface descriptor has to be combined with the dictionary defined inthe database. Generally, when the interface defining descriptors aremodified or new descriptors are added, the database itself is alsomodified.

A further document U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,333 discloses a data managementsystem comprising a database and a category definition dictionary. Thecategory definition dictionary defines categories for different timeperiods. These definitions are used when data has to be searched fromthe database. The category definitions are used for trackingre-classifications of products from a first category to a secondcategory. An addition of categories is not disclosed.

In view of that it is the object of the present invention to providemore comfortable update possibilities for database accesses.

Therefore, according to the present invention there is provided a methodfor accessing a database including the steps of presenting at least onecategory item defining a search criterion for said database, selectingone or more of said at least one category item, and searching in saiddatabase according to said selected one or more category items, whereinsaid at least one category item is provided within interface descriptormeans being commonly available for database accesses.

Furthermore, according to the present invention the above object issolved by a device for accessing a database including display means forpresenting at least one category item defining a search criterion forsaid database, selecting means connected to said display means forselecting one or more of said at least one category item, and searchingmeans connected to said selecting means for searching in said databaseaccording to said selected one or more category items, wherein saiddisplay means being connectable to external interface descriptor meansproviding said at least one category item.

In other words, a concept of interface descriptor for database accessesis proposed. The interface descriptor may be a XML file or a file inanother standard programming language, which describes interfacecategories and database access strategies. A so formed databaseinterface machine contains a standard category display method and astandard database access method, which, however, can use the definitionof an interface descriptor to set up a categorized interface to thedatabase and complete database search. The advantage of using suchinterface descriptor is, that, when users want to update the interfacecategory and database access method, they do not need to change thesoftware or hardware of the interface machine. They only have to updatethe interface descriptor, based on the XML schema. The interfacedescriptor can define complicated database access strategies byproviding subcategory items and combined search criteria within a singlecategory item. Thus, large databases, for example metadata databases,can be searched comfortably.

The present invention will now be described in more detail in connectionwith the attached figures showing in:

FIG. 1 a schematic diagram of a database access by pre-definedcategories according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 a schematic diagram of a database access by pre-definedcategories based on an interface descriptor according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 a scheme design view of an interface descriptor;

FIG. 4 pictures of a graphical user interface for presenting theinterface descriptor;

FIG. 5 pictures of the graphical user interface for a search strategyand

FIG. 6 a picture of the graphical user interface for a combined search.

The following described examples are preferred embodiments of thepresent invention. However, for better understanding of the presentinvention a traditional database categorized access application isexplained first in connection with FIG. 1.

Traditionally, a database 1 can be accessed by an interface machine 2.Pre-defined category items 5 are shown by an associated presentationmethod 4 via a graphic user interface (GUI) 3. These category items 5are defined in category classes in the interface machine 2. The categoryitems are a fixed part of the interface machine 2. Under each categoryitem, an associated individual database access method 6 is defined, orall category items can share a general database access method 6.

The access method according to the prior art thus includes the followingsteps. The user may browse a category of database 1, choose a categoryitem and search the database 1 through an access method 6 defined underthe current category item.

As mentioned above, the disadvantage of this traditional databasecategorized access application (FIG. 1) is that the defined categoriesand the associated database access implementation must be pre-built inthe database-interface-machine 2. If users want to update the categoriesand the database access method in their interface machine 2, they mustupdate the related software or hardware.

To solve this disadvantage, a database categorized access method basedon an interface descriptor is proposed according to the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the database 1 can be accessed by the interfacemachine 2. The interface machine 2 consists of GUI (graphic userinterface) 3, a standard category presentation method 4, a standardgeneral database access method 6 and some special database accessmethods 7, if any. However, the interface machine 2 does not contain anycategory definition means. The interface machine 2 imports categorydefinitions from an interface descriptor 8, which locates outside theinterface machine 2. GUI 3 utilizes a standard category presentationmethod 4 to import a category message from the interface descriptor 8.When the user searches the database 1 under a selected category, theinterface machine 2 must import associated access strategy messages fromthe interface descriptor 8. Under instruction of the interfacedescriptor access strategy message, the interface machine 2 uses astandard database access method 6 or any special access method 7 tosearch the database 1.

Preferably, the interface descriptor is a XML file, which is defined byits XML schema. FIG. 3 is a schema design view of the current interfacedescriptor.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the root element is “InterfaceDescriptor”. It hastwo attributes: “version” (required) and “author” (optional). Attribute“version” includes the version message of the current interfacedescriptor. The version message directs the GUI to use its associatedapplication to show category and search database. Attribute “author”shows the developer of the current interface descriptor.

The root element “InterfaceDescriptor” contains one or more sub-elements“AccessMethod” (min. 1˜max. unbounded). This is indicated by the symbolbetween “InterfaceDescriptor” and “AccessMethod”. Each “AccessMethod”includes an attribute “name” (required), which gives the name of adatabase access method. See FIG. 3(a).

Each “AccessMethod” has one or more sub-elements “Category” (min. 1˜max.unbounded). Each “Category” contains the attributes “name” (required)and “counter” (optional). Attribute “name” contains the shown name ofcategory. Attribute “counter” contains the number of the last searchresult. See FIG. 3(a).

As shown in FIG. 3(b), element “Category” is a global element, whichcontains one or more sub-elements “SearchText” (min. 1˜max. unbounded)and optionally one or more sub-elements “Category” (min. 0˜max.unbounded). Element “SearchText” has the attributes “type” (required),“text” (required) and “mode” (optional). Attribute “type” defines thetype of search text, for example a page of a teletext. Currently, itsvalue can be chosen from “element”, “attribute”, “value” or “no”.Attribute “text” includes the keyword for search, for example a specificnumber of a page of the teletext. Each “Category” can have unbounded“SearchText”, which means each “Category” can have more than one keywordfor search. Attribute “mode” represents the name of a specific databaseaccess method 7. When it is default, a standard general access method isused. Otherwise, the specific access method 7 will be used. Each“Category” can have own sub-elements “Category”.

As shown in FIG. 3(c), element “SearchText” is a global element, whichmay contain zero, one or more sub-elements “SearchText” (min. 0˜max.unbounded). Sub-element “SearchText” has the same schema as its parentelement “SearchText”. This structure makes it possible to refine searchresults.

EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION

The database categorized accessing based on the interface descriptor maybe applied to a metadata database interface machine.

As shown in FIG. 4, the user may import InterfaceDescriptor.xml byclicking the ComboBox 41. All current category access methods includedin the InterfaceDescriptor.xml are shown in 42. When opening the“Developer Access” method, all its categories are presented in a treeview pane as shown in 43. Here, a standard category input method in theinterface machine is utilized for the category presentation. Eachcategory may contain sub category items, as further shown in 43. Allthese category messages are defined in InterfaceDescriptor.xml. The usermay browse all pre-defined categories in the tree view pane.

In FIG. 5, the user may select category “Teletext Metadata” 51 and press“Search” button 52. All found results are shown in a view pane 53. Inthis case, a standard database access method imports the “SearchText”message from the InterfaceDescriptor.xml and searches the text keyword“TeleTextPage” as type “Element”. The respective XML command is: ... ...<Category name=“Teletext Metadata”> <SearchText type=“Element”text=“TeleTextPage”/> ... . . . </Category>

In FIG. 5, when category “Special Page” 54 is selected, “search” button55 is inactive. This means that the category “Special Page” 54 isdefined as not-searchable in InterfaceDescriptor.xml. The respective XMLcommand is: ... ... <Category name=“Special Page”> <SearchText type=“no”text=“”/> ... ... </Category>

Furthermore, the user may search under category “Page 100” 56. In thiscase, as defined in InterfaceDescriptor.xml, the search machine willsearch for keyword “100” as type “value” under attribute “PageNo” amongall teletext metadata. A found result is shown in a view pane 57. Therespective XML command is: ... ... <Category name=“Page 100”><SearchText type=“Attribute” text=“PageNo”> <SearchText type=“Value”text=“100”/> </SearchText> </Category> ... ...

As shown in FIG. 6, the user may search under category “Page 100-109”61. In this case, as defined in InterfaceDescriptor.xml, a group of“SearchText” is defined so that a combined search corresponding to tensingle searches will be started. The search machine will search forteletext pages from number 100 to 109. All found results are shown in aview pane 62. The respective XML command is: ... ... <Categoryname=“Page 100 - 109”> <SearchText type=“Attribute” text=“PageNo”><SearchText type=“Value” text=“100”/> </SearchText> <SearchTexttype=“Attribute” text=“PageNo”> <SearchText type=“Value” text=“101”/></SearchText> <SearchText type=“Attribute” text=“PageNo”> <SearchTexttype=“Value” text=“102”/> </SearchText> <SearchText type=“Attribute”text=“PageNo”> <SearchText type=“Value” text=“103”/> </SearchText><SearchText type=“Attribute” text=“PageNo”> <SearchText type=“Value”text=“104”/> </SearchText> <SearchText type=“Attribute” text=“PageNo”><SearchText type=“Value” text=“105”/> </SearchText> <SearchTexttype=“Attribute” text=“PageNo”> <SearchText type=“Value” text=“106”/></SearchText> <SearchText type=“Attribute” text=“PageNo”> <SearchTexttype=“Value” text=“107”/> </SearchText> <SearchText type=“Attribute”text=“PageNo”> <SearchText type=“Value” text=“108”/> </SearchText><SearchText type=“Attribute” text=“PageNo”> <SearchText type=“Value”text=“109”/> </SearchText> . . . . . . </Category> . . . . . .

Thus, the interface descriptor for database categorized accessing allowsto develop more complicated data access strategies.

The interface descriptor according to the present invention can workindependently, since all relevant dictionary elements such as search keywords are included in the interface descriptor. Furthermore, theinterface descriptor can access the database directly and does not needany additional category definition dictionary.

1. Method for accessing a database having the steps of presenting atleast one category item defining a search criterion for said database,selecting one or more of said at least one category item, and searchingin said database according to said selected one or more category items,comprising providing said at least one category item within interfacedescriptor means independent of the database.
 2. Method according toclaim 1, wherein said interface descriptor means is a software unitwritten in a standard programming language.
 3. Method according to claim2, wherein said standard programming language is XML.
 4. Methodaccording to claim 1, wherein a plurality of category items is providedand at least one category item of said plurality of category itemsincludes one or more sub-category items.
 5. Method according to claim 1,wherein said at least one category item includes combined searchcriteria.
 6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the database is ametadata database.
 7. Device for accessing a database having displaymeans for presenting at least one category item defining a searchcriterion for said database, selecting means connected to said displaymeans for selecting one or more of said at least one category item, andsearching means connected to said selecting means for searching in saiddatabase according to said selected one or more category items, andinterface descriptor means independent of the database for providingsaid at least one category item.
 8. Device according to claim 7, whereinsaid interface descriptor means is a software unit written in a standardprogramming language.
 9. Device according to claim 8, wherein saidstandard programming language is XML.
 10. Device according to claim 7,wherein said external interface descriptor means includes a plurality ofcategory items as search criteria and at least one category item of saidplurality of category items includes one or more sub-category items. 11.Device according to claim 7, wherein said at least one category itemincludes combined search criteria.
 12. Device according to claim 7,wherein said database is a metadata database.